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How to Lighten Your Hair For Summer: A Guide for Every Shade

Lightening your hair colour always results in one of two emotions—exultation or extreme remorse. To help you avoid feeling the latter, we’ve put together the ultimate lightening guide for every shade. So whether your locks are raven-hued or naturally sun-kissed, you can rest assured that your new, lighter ‘do is the most flattering one for you. Plus, we got input from Denis de Souza, Joico’s celeb colourist and It-girl favourite (he’s responsible for Kate Mara’s platinum colour transformation), so you know you (and your locks) are in good hands.

Click through the slideshow above and see what new, lighter colour you should consider rocking for summer!

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Subtle Chocolate Highlights

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PHOTO: Bryan Bedder/Getty

If your locks are naturally black like Jamie Chung’s, introduce some subtle dark brown highlights. They’ll brighten your complexion and give new life to your hair!

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Golden Sombré

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PHOTO: Jon Kopalaff/Getty

Ombré not your thing? You might want to consider sombré, like the one de Souza created for client Lucy Hale. A phrase coined by de Souza, sombré means “subtle ombré” and is a more natural color fade that’s perfect for summer.

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Reddish Undertones

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PHOTO: Patrick McMullan

Add warmth to your face by adding a hint of red to your chocolate brown locks, like de Souza did for his client Lily Collins.

Rose Gold Ombré

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PHOTO: Donato Sardella/Getty Images

We’ve been tracking Kate Mara’s hair evolution very carefully, and we have to say that this sleek, rose gold ombré is one of our favorite looks on this natural redhead. “Kate had never colored her hair before going blonde,” de Souza reveals. “It gives her a certain edge!”

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Lightening Your Ends

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PHOTO: JB Lacroix / Getty Images

The lighter version of sombré starts with dark blonde roots and ends with golden, light-reflecting ends.